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Jerry's Artarama is committed to helping the artist community through the use of our extensive library of "How To" Free Art Lessons on Video.Artist experts and professionals demonstrate, teach, offer tips, techniques and art instructions on video for beginners just starting out, intermediate in training and advanced artists.Exciting Free Art Lessons and Art Instructions Include:

Whether you are just starting out, a more skilled artist or advanced artist....getting new tips, ideas and techniques could never be more fun and exciting!

Bob Ostrom

My first semi-professional illustration job came in the third grade when I traded a really lame monster drawing for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When I got a little older I realized I was pretty good at drawing, so I went to art school in Boston. During my second year I entered a contest for Molson Golden. To my surprise, not only did I win, but I was handed a check for $500.00 and a contract to do more artwork for them. Suddenly I was a professional! After college I worked with several different companies, designing logos, doing paste up, conceptual art, storyboarding, working with licensed characters, and art direction. You name it, I was doing it, but the one thing that kept shining through was my love for illustration... so I took a gamble, quit my job as an art director and went to work for a small toy company in Framingham, Massachusetts, where I could draw all the time! It was a great job but it ended almost as quickly as it started. The company was forced to layoff half of its art staff due to budget cut backs. I was one of the unlucky ones. With no idea where else to find the type of work I truly loved, I decided to go into business for myself. At the ripe old age of 25 I became a freelance illustrator. I took a year or two to learn the ropes and then found myself an agent. I'd always dreamed of becoming a children's book illustrator. Within 6 months I had my first title published and I was on my way! There are few thrills like seeing your art work on the shelf of your local book store, and I was hooked. I spent the next 10 years working in licensed art. I was fortunate enough to work with many of the best: Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Warner Brothers, just to name a few. My artwork was being published all over the world and could be seen in bookstores everywhere. After a while I started to get itchy. I wanted to draw my own characters. I began looking around for way to get my stuff out there. I found a small software company in town and they asked me to come join them; I accepted. I started by designing characters for kids' games, pretty soon I was storyboarding again and next thing you know I was promoted to lead artist / art director of the concept department. The company was acquired by Vivendi Universal and we grew quite large. A couple years later and Vivendi's CEO was in trouble, company stock plummeted and we were shut down. I decided to go back to what I truly love. I found a new rep, sold my house and moved with my family down to North Carolina where I am freelancing today. Things are going great! I have clients all over the world and am still just as thrilled to see my books on the shelves at my local bookstore. - Bob Ostrom

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